Blank feeding means



Dec. 29, 1936. F

V BLANK FEEDING MEANS Filed April 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIII I l l I I l I l I l l I I 1 I I I I I l I l l l II INVENTOR QQQ Dec. 29, 1936. J. F. FERM BLANK FEEDING MEANS Filed April 4, 1935 2 Stggets-Sheet 2 IXENTOR I Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLANK FEEDING MEANS Application April 4, 1935, Serial No. 14,592

7 Claims.

My invention relates to feeding material and, in particular, to the feeding of material to a die rolling mill, although it may have other applications.

The problem of feeding blanks to a die rolling mill is a serious one because it is necessary that the blanks enter the roll pass at exactly the proper time to completely fill the die impressions in the surfaces of the rolls. The problem is particularly acute in rolling blanks singly, especially if the blanks are large and heavy. Where blanks are rolled in a string, it makes little difference whether or not the leader is entered between the rolls at one time or another, since it is normally expected that there will be at least one incomplete blank formed on each end thereof.

Single blanks have been die rolled heretofore by the so-called Ajax method, according to which the rolls are so shaped that, when in certain positions, they provide a free passage through which a billet may be moved from the front side of the mill between the rolls and against a stop on the back side. When the rolls advance into engagement with the billet it is fed back towards the front side of the mill as the rolling proceeds. This method requires an idling period in which the billets are fed and thus limits the production of the mill, and is objec-' tionable in that it requires reversal of the direction of movement of the billet.

My invention, therefore, has for its object the provision of means for automatically feeding heavy blanks into a die rolling mill in timed relation with the rotation of the rolls thereof so that the die impressions are completely filled and a perfect die-rolled article produced.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a pusher member mounted for movement into and out of the path of the material to be fed, and means for driving it in timed relation to the rotation of the mill rolls. In one position, the pusher member serves to prevent the blank or billet to be rolled from entering the mill and in another position, the pusher is effective to advance the billet, .as will be described in detail hereinafter.

Specifically, the invention comprises a yoke reciprocable above the roll table which serves to deliver billets to the mill. A pusher bar is pivoted to the yoke and is operated through suitable cranks and linkages, as the yoke is reciprocated to and from the mill. For a complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description, although it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms that that described herein, within the scope of my broader claims. ings:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing a preferred form of the invention disposed in operative relation to a die rolling mill, which is shown largely in outline only;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, the details of the mill housings being omitted;

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line III III of Figure 1;

' Figure 4 is anend view of the invention looking toward the mill end thereof; and

Figure 5 is a transverse'sectional view along the line VV of Figure 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a die rolling mill I comprises housings l l in which are journaled die rolls l2 having forming grooves 13 therein. These grooves, of course, are effective to shape a billet l4 fed between the rolls into the desired form, in a specific instance, a forging blank for the crank shaft of an internal combustion engine. The mill rolls [2 are driven from a shaft l through suitable gears l6 and I1. Either one of the mill rolls l2 may be driven by a spindle and the other one driven by the train of gears l6 and I1.

Billets, such as that shown at [4, after having is direct the billets into line with the grooves I3."

It will be understood that the rolls l2 may be provided with a plurality of grooves adapted to be used successively as wear takes place therein. The guides IS are preferably arranged to be adjusted relative to the roll table l8, being preferably supported from the side rails thereof by any convenient means, such as slotted aprons between the table rolls. A plate 26 and a guide 2| are disposed between the end of the roll table l8 and the mill rolls and are mounted in any con-' venient manner between the mill housings. Stops 22 are slidable in suitable guides 23 and, while normally lying below the level of the roll table, are adapted tobe ,moved upwardly as shown in dotted lines, to arrest billets advancing along the table by rotation of shafts 24.

Base plates 25 extending along opposite sides of the roll table l8 have parallel ways 26 formed therein. A yoke or carriage 21 overlying the roll table, is slidable in the Ways 26. A pusher bar 28 In the draw- 7 is pivoted beneath the yoke 21 on a shaft 29 so as to be tiltable to the two extreme positions shown in solid and dot and dash lines, respectively, in Figure 2. The bar 28 carries a pusher head 36 and a counterweight 3|. The head 30 is preferably remov'ably mounted on the end of the bar 28 so as to be cap-able of being disposed thereon in line with the particular grooves of the rolls i2 which are being utilized at any given time. ,The head 36 is also preferably removably mounted so 7 that it can be adjusted forwards and backwards on the bar. This provides an accurate and easy -means of timing the entrance of the billet into the mill with great precision. This adjustment also takes care of different billet lengths.

The bar 28 is adapted to be tilted by means of bell cranks 32 pivoted on a shaft 33 carried in suitable bearings at the mill end of the yoke 21. The bell cranks are connected to the bar by links 34. A shaft 35 is journaled adjacent the outer end of the yoke and has cranks 35 thereon connected by links 37! to the bell cranks 3 2. The shaft also has eccentrics 38 on the ends thereof movable between fixed stops 39 and 40. V

A crank shaft M is journaled in suitable bearings 42 between the mill and the adjacent end of the roll table l8. A gear 43 on the shaft is adapted to be driven by the gear I! on the lower roll of the mill through an intermediate pinion 44. The gears 43 and I! are of the same diameter so that the feeder makes one complete forward and backward stroke for each revolution of the rolls. This arrangement is suitable for one die impression in the rolls. With short billets it is possible to have two or more die impressions in the rolls. In such case, I substitute for gear 43 a gear having a diameter such that the number of turns thereof for each revolution of the mill will equal the number of die impressions in each roll. The shaft 4| has cranks 45 at the ends thereof. Links 43 connect the cranks '45 and the eccentrics 38.

It will be apparent from what has been said that when the mill rolls are so driven asto pass material therebetween from left to right, the crank shaft M will be driven in a clockwise direction. With the apparatus in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the initial result of the rotation of the shaft 4| is that the eccentrics-53 are shifted from the solid line position against the stops 39 to a position against the stops 40. The cranks 36 and links 31 thus operate the bell cranks 32 to tilt the pusher bar 28 to the position shown in Figure 2 in dot and dash lines.

Further rotation of the .shaft 4! causes the yoke'2l to slide back in the. ways 26 to its extreme rearmost position,

as indicated in dot and dash lines in Figure 3.

When the cranks 45 have reached a position 180 from that shown in solid lines in Figure 2, continued movement thereof will cause the cocentrics 38 to be pulled forward again" until they engage the stops 39. This movement, of course,

restores the pusher bar to its original position relative to the horizontal. Further rotation of the cranks 45 causes the yoke 21 to move forward toward the position shown in' Figures 1 and 2.

It will also be readily apparent from the foregoing that the above described movement of the pusher bar may conveniently be utilized to ad-' that the stops 22 have been successively raised to stop heated billets moving toward the mill and that the yoke 2! and pusher bar 28 are in the position shown in Figure 3, it will be clear that lowering of the forward stop 22 will permit the leading billet to advance to the supporting plate 26 as the pusher head 30 is raised and retracted by the clockwise rotation of the shaft 4| and cranks 45. The disposition of the roll table and the mill rolls, of course, is such that the continued rotation of. the table rolls will not actually feed the billet into themill but will leave it in some such position as indicated in dotted lines at'50.

When the pusher head 30 has reached'the rear- ,most point'in its path, as shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 3, it is lowered, as already described, and advanced toward the mill, with the result that the billet is moved from the dotted line position to the solid line position I4 as the pusher head reaches the foremost point in its path. The billet is thus fed between the rolls at precisely the proper time to insure that it completely fills the die forming grooves I3 so that a perfect forging blank will be rolled. .Since the movement of the pusher; is positively controlled by the rotation of the mill rolls, it will be apparent that there is no possibility of their losing a succeeding billet to advance to the forward stop while a further billet is fed along the table to be restrained by the rear stop when the latter has again been raised. It is a very simple matter, obviously, for an operator to shift the stops-22 from restraining to releasing positions, inac-,

cordance with the movement of the pusher bar 28. the forward stop at the proper time, nothing would happen except that the pusher would make an idling stroke. No great precision, furthermore, is required as to the instant at which the forward stop is released. This may even be done when the pusher bar is moving forward toward the mill. In this event, the billet will simply follow the pusher head and rest on the plate 20 until the next forward stroke of the head. It is only necessary that the operator avoid having thebillet in position such that it would interfere with the lowering movement of the pusher head at the commencement of a forward stroke.

It will be apparent from the foregoing descrip tion that the invention provides simple yet positive means for insuring that billets fordie rolling will be fed to the mill at the proper instant in the rotation of the die rolls. relieves the constant strain and effort on the part of the operator heretofore relied on to advance the billets manually into the mill at the proper instant. I driven by the main mill drive, ample power is available for accelerating the billet to the proper speed, even though it be large and heavy. The invention, in addition to being simple and relatively inexpensive in construction, requires little maintenance aside from lubrication. Since the only manual operation required is the releasing of billets for advancement to the feeding position, no particular skill is required to operate the device. The invention has a further advantage in that the velocity of the billet being fed is gradually re-- duced to substantially zero; There is thus no Even if the operator should fail to release The invention thus Since the feeder of my inventionais' tendency for the billet to run ahead of the pusher by virtue of its own momentum and enter the rolls prematurely. Because of the crank-motion apparatus for actuating the pusher, the latter has a substantial period of dwell in its foremost position so that the billet is actually held against the rolls for a short time. Any tendency of the rolls to shunt the billet backward is thus opposed by the pusher head which backs up the billet and holds it in feeding position for an appreciable time. This is the equivalent of the fixed stop previously used on the back of the mill to determine the position of billets fed in from the front of the mill. If it is desired to prevent backward movement of the billet even after the end of the period of dwell in which the pusher head engages it, this result may be attained by means of ayielding dog or detent adapted to be depressed by the advancing billet and effective to spring up behind it. Another way to arrive at the same result is to provide a shoulder on the billet-supporting plate between the pusher and mill, effective to prevent reverse movement of the billet once it has been moved past the shoulder.

I prefer that the billet reach the position for entering the rolls slightly before the die impres sions in the rolls come around to engage the billet. The exact time of arrival of the billet at feeding position, with respect to the rotation of the die impressions can be accurately controlled by adjusting the pusher head longitudinally on its supporting pusher bar. The rolling tolerances are sufficient to allow for entry of the billet slightly in advance of the arrival of the die impressions.

I may, furthermore, provide a spring back-up for yieldingly holding the pusher head in position, so that the billet will actually be supported against reverse movement for a still longer period.

It is not necessary that the feeder operate once for every revolution of the mill rolls. By changing the size of the gear 43, the feeder may be caused to operate twice or three times for every revolution of the mill or, if desired, only once for every two or more mill revolutions. If the rolls have more than one set of die impressions, it may be desirable to feed two or more billets per revolution of the rolls. If the die impressions are long, there may not be sufiicient time between the passage of the trailing end and the approach of the leading end to permit feeding another billet due to the limiting speed of the feeder mechanism. In, such case, the feeder may be set to advance a billet for every alternate revolution of the mill, by changing the size of the driving gears. Then too, if the available billet capacity does not require continuous operation of the die rolling mill to keep up with billet production, wear on the feeder can be reduced by having it operate only on alternate revolutions or on every third revolution of the mill.

The advantage of being able to feed single billets straightforward from the front side of the mill without reverse movement as required by the previous practice of feeding from the back side, is obvious.

Although I have illustrated and described herein but one preferred form of the invention, it will be obvious that changes in the construction described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for feeding material to a rolling mill comprising a conveyor, a yoke overlying the conveyor and slidable therealong, a pusher pivoted on the yoke for movement into and out of the path of material traversing said conveyor, a bell crank on the yoke for tilting the pusher, an eccentric on the yoke for actuating the bell crank. means pivotally connecting the eccentric to said crank, a crank connected to saideccentric, means for driving the crank at a speed proportional to that of the mill rolls, and a link pivotally connecting said crank to said eccentric.

2. The apparatus defined by claim 1 characterized by said pusher being pivoted tothe under side of said yoke.

3. The apparatus defined by claim 1 characterized by said bell crank being connected to the pusher adjacent the end thereof nearest the mill.

4. The apparatus defined by claim 1 characterized by said eccentric being mounted on the yoke remote from the end thereof nearest the mill.

5. Apparatus for feeding metal masses to a rolling mill having'a feed table, said apparatus comprising a carriage reciprocable along said table, a pusher pivoted thereto having a portion movable into or out of the path of said masses moving along said table, a bell crank linked to said pusher, an eccentric mounted on said carriage for actuating said crank, a link pivoted to said eccentric and crank, and means for reciproeating said pusher, said means also being effective to operate said eccentric.

6. Apparatus for feeding metal masses to a rolling mill having a feed table, said apparatus comprising a carriage reciprocable along said table, a pusher pivoted thereto having a portion movable into or out of the path of said masses moving along said table, an eccentric mounted on said carriage, means whereby movement of the eccentric actuates the pusher, and means for reciprocating said carriage, said last-mentioned means being effective to swing the eccentric before reversing the movement of the carriage.

7. The apparatus defined by claim 6, characterized by said last-mentioned means being pivoted to said eccentric.

JOHN F. FERM. 

